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Gaston Co. business break-ins may be linked to recent crimes, police say

BESSEMER CITY, N.C — Police in Gaston County are looking for the people who they say broke into two local restaurants and stole cash registers on Christmas Day. The burglaries may be linked to a string of recent crimes in the area, officials said.

Officials said the burglars used large rocks to break into the Golden China restaurant and McDonald’s Restaurant, both on Gastonia Highway in Bessemer City.

In more than 50 years in business, Bobby McDonald, owner of McDonald’s Restaurant, can think of only one other time he's dealt with a break-in situation.

“I guess I should probably be mad,” McDonald said. “Glass was all over everything.”

A surveillance video shows two people wearing hoodies work their way into McDonald’s Restaurant through a broken window, while at least three people wait outside in a vehicle.

Within seconds, they were all gone.

“They got out pretty quick,” McDonald said.

Police said the two cases could be connected to at least four others in Gastonia, in which thieves stole from businesses over Christmas.

Surveillance video from a Brixx Pizza captured a burglar making off with a cash register.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the people in these cases is asked to contact the Bessemer City Police Department at 704-629-2235 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.

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